The Derek Jeter/Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship provides financial assistance and mentoring to young minority students who are entering college.

Rashawn Anthony Davis

High School: University High School (Newark, N.J.)College: Georgetown UniversityCollege Major/Minor: Political science/sociology

Akpanoluo Etteh

Akpanoluo Etteh was awarded the Derek Jeter/Jackie Robinson Scholarship in 2006 for his outstanding leadership potential and dedication to community service. In 2010, Akpanoluo graduated from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science. During his time at Yale, he took advantage of the prestigious school's opportunities by acting as a Spanish translator for uninsured families, participating in Magevet, the premier Jewish, Hebrew and Israeli a cappella group of Yale University, submerging himself in Yale's history, and serving as a mentor to another student. Akpanoluo is currently employed as an intern at Brand Strategy at Yale's licensing department. In the future, he hopes to have a career that enables him to create, explain and implement novel ideas to problems either in the field of marketing, design, or consulting and start his own business with like-minded classmates. After graduating, Akpanoluo discussed his thoughts about his time at Yale and the Derek Jeter/Jackie Robinson Scholarship, along with his future aspirations.

In what ways did the Derek Jeter/Jackie Robinson Scholarship help your college experience?The Derek Jeter/Jackie Robinson Scholarship has been an invaluable opportunity for me to meet a diverse group of successful and motivated people, both of college age and in the professional world. The experiences have given me an added perspective on what it means to be an African-American, as well as the many paths that are available to reach success.

In what ways do you think you represent the Turn 2 Foundation's mission?I appreciate how fortunate I am for the many opportunities I have been given, and I strive to use my abilities to help others when I can. My main means of doing this at Yale was serving as a translator at the Fair Haven Free Clinic, enabling the many Spanish speakers without health insurance to communicate with their doctors so that they could receive the treatment they deserve.

Why did you pursue your degree at Yale University, and how do you feel it helped in your education goals?I pursued a degree at Yale University because I knew that I would be surrounded by intelligent people with diverse interests, which would help me grow in leaps and bounds as a member of society. I also came to learn from the best and gain insights best afforded by a liberal arts education.

What was your most significant moment while at Yale?As a student in an introduction to architecture class, I spent a lot of time contemplating Yale's history through the study of its buildings, past and present. It helped me appreciate artistry on a new level, as well as making me realize how fortunate I was to be at a place like Yale. It is one thing to walk through the archways and admire the designs, but it is more profound to think of how they came to be, and who made them possible.

Thinking back about your time at Yale, how did your experiences shape who you are today?Yale has made me a more insightful person, someone who can express his ideas more logically and articulately, and has enhanced my love of knowledge.

What have you done outside of the classroom that demonstrates qualities that align with the Turn 2 Foundation's mission? Are you currently involved in leadership or mentoring activities?
Apart from volunteering at the Fair Haven Free Clinic, I am currently serving as a mentor for a student from the University of Puerto Rico. He is very interested in research, so I have helped him to gain an understanding of psychology research so that he can better engage himself in it.

What are your most important extracurricular or community activities? What made you join these activities, and are you currently involved with them?Magevet was my most important extracurricular activity. Every member of the group works hard to organize concerts, recruit new students and train ourselves musically. The sense of community that is developed as we reap the rewards of our labor is strong and has given me some of my closest friends. Even though I have graduated, I am still involved, giving advice on recruitment and marketing -- my areas of expertise.

When you look back on your life in 30 years, what would it take for you to consider your life successful? What people, things and accomplishments would you like to see? I will need to feel that my life is always moving forward. I also will need to have maintained a mind that is as creative and active as mine is today. I also expect to have a close-knit group of family and friends around me. Beyond that, I only care to have enough money to be free of financial burdens and enough leisure time to be able to enjoy it.

Since its launch in 1996, the Turn 2 Foundation has awarded more than $20 million in grants.

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.